Ellen Beardmore

Hundreds of homes can be built on greenfield land in Sheffield to meet demand after outline plans were approved – despite traffic concerns.

Proposals for 200 homes at land close to the Arnold Lavers production centre, Oxclose Park Road, Ox Hill, were given the green light subject to conditions.

A key consideration was Sheffield’s undersupply of housing land, said a planning report.

However more than 30 representations had been made, many to raise concerns about whether the existing highway network could cope with extra cars.

Coun Denise Reaney, speaking at the planning committee which agreed plans on Tuesday, said: “My previous concerns have not been addressed about traffic.

“All these extra vehicles can only go on to one road to access Crystal Peaks and the city. I’d like assurances they are going to build some extra highways that will take the extra vehicles because you could have 400 or 500 extra going on to the Mosborough bypass.”

Councillors were told a transport assessment had shown the surrounding roads had extra capacity.

An initial layout has been amended to include a less direct connection between Deepwell Avenue and Oxlose Park Road to ease concerns about ‘rat running.’

A spokesman for Arnold Lavers also spoke about how the firm should not have ‘unreasonable restrictions’ placed on it because of the land use change

The meeting heard applicant Hallam Land Management had demonstrated mitigation scheme could be implemented to ensure noise from Arnold Lavers and a nearby railway line would not affect residents.